Foldable brushes



April 23, 1963 s. l.. ANoNsEN 3,086,236

FOLDABLE: BRUSHES Filed Feb. 13. 1961 @lima-tgl F1a-4 F165 IV//A IN VEN TOR. .SHEL oo/v EfA/va/vsf/v yffmumfm ATTaR/VE Y.:

Unite This invention relates to new and useful improvements in foldable brushes of the type which may be folded into a neat compact unit for convenient carrying in a pocket, a ladies handbag, or a carrying case, when not in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding brush having means connecting the bristles and handle in such a manner that when the handle is in its normal closed position, the bristles `are folded into their inoperative positions within the brush, and when the handle is opened and swung outwardly toA its extended operative position, the brush may be used as a conventional brush.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brush Iassembly which readily lends itself for manufacture of plastic material, and in which all of the parts thereof may readily be assembled to provide a highly efficient composite yfolding brush which, when Ifolded, is very compact and neat in appearance, `and may readily be carried in a ladies handbag or in a pocket.

A further object is to provide a foldable brush of the character describedcomprising a suitable body, a plurality of bristle-supporting units movably supported therein, and an operating handle, said parts 4being so oriented that the bristles are automatically moved into their operative or inoperative positions by the simple manipulation of the operating handle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brush structure of the character described which is extremely simple in construction whereby it readily lends itself for manufacture in mass production at very low cost.

Other objects of the invention reside in the unique mounting of the bristle units within the brush body; in the actuating means for the bristles; in the means provided in the operating handle for separating the bristles ofeach bristle unit from one another when the handle is in closing position; and in the operative connection between the bristle operating unit and the operating handle.

These and other objects of the invention `and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following 'description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the vario-us objects o-f the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top View of the brush showing the handle extended to its open operative position;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on theline 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4, showing the bristles and handle in their folded positions;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6` is an enlarged detail yfragmental view showing the supporting means for the bristles and the operating means therefor;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing one of the brush holder `units detached from the brush assembly; and

rates Patent ice FIGURE 8 is a top view of the body of the brush only, showing its two-piece construction before the brush is assembled.

The novel foldablebrush herein disclosed is shown comprising an elongated body, generally designated by the numeral `2, comprising a :bottom wall 3, side walls 4 and 5, yand end walls 6 and 7, preferably integrally formed of -a suitable plastic material, as is now well known in the art.

In the construction of the brush, the body 2, for economic reasons and to facilitate assembling, is preferably molded in two parts, or is split, as best shown in FIG- URE 8. It comprises parts 8 and 9 having inwardly facing faces 11 :and 12, respectively, adapted to be abuttingly engaged and suitably bonded or fused together in the operation of assembling the bristles and handle with the brush body 2, as will subsequently be described.

An important feature of the present invention resides, in the construction and operation of the bristle-supporting means, whereby the bristles are mounted for pivotal movement in the body 2 of the brush. The pivotal movement of the bristles is effected by swinging movement of the handle.

As best shown in FIGURE 7, each bristle unit comprises a supporting bar 13 having a series of longitudinally aligned apertures 14 therein, indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 6, each aperture 14 is adapted to receive ya tuft of bristles 1S. The bristle tufts are stapled in or adhesively secured in their respective `apertures 14, as is well known in the brush art.

Each bristle-supporting bar 13 is provided at its opposite ends with axially aligned outwardly projecting pivots or cylindrical projections 16, adapted to be received in arcuately yformed inwardly directed recesses 17, provided in the inside surfaces of the side walls 4 and 5 of the body 2 of the brush, las best shown in FIGURES 2. and 3. Each bar 13 is also shown provided intermediate of its ends with an opening 1S terminating at its bottom in a cylindrical element 19.

The cylindrical elements 19 of the bristle-supporting bars 13 are rotatably received in bearings 2d provided in an elongated strap-like bristle actuating member 22, mounted for relative longitudinal movement in an elongated recess or guideway 23, provided in the bottom wall 3 of the body 2 of the brush, as will be understood by reference to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 Iand 5. A lspring 24 has one end attached to one end of the bristle actuating member 22, as shown at 25 in FIGURES 3 Iand 6 of the drawings. The opposite end of spring 24 is anchored to the end wall 6 of the brush body 2 by suitable means such as a pin 26.

The opposite end of member 22 is shown provided with a restricted or relatively thinner strap-like portion 27 which passes through an opening 28 provided in end wall 7 adjacent to the guideway 23, and is fused, molded integrally, or otherwise secured to the adjacent cylindrical end portion 29 of an operating handle, generally designated by the numeral 30. The cylindrical end portion 29 is provided at its opposite ends with axially aligned opposed cylindrical pivots or studs 3l adapted to be received in suitable bearing apertures or recesses 32 provided in the adjacent ends of the side walls 4 and 5 of the brush body, as shown in FIGURE l. The restricted or thinner portion 27 of the bristle actuating member 22 is ilexible or resilient so that it may be partially wound `about the cylindrical end portion 29 of the adjacent end Wall of the handle 30, as clearly indicated in Fif- URES 3 and 6. The bearings 20 of bristle actuating member 22 for receiving the cylindrical bearing elements 19 of the bristle-supporting bars 13 may readily be formed by pairs of opposed upright resilient lugs 3'3..

The spacing between the upper terminals of each pair of lugs 33 is slightly less than the diameter of the bearing elements 19 of each bristle-supporting bar 13, whereby the bearing elements 19 may be forced between their respective bearing lugs 33, into bearings 29, with a snap action, as will be understood.

To assemble the parts, the bristle units, including the bars 13, are secured to the bristle actuating member 22 by snapping the cylindrical bearing element 19 of each bristle unit 13 between a pair of opposed lugs 33 of the actuating member 22, thereby pivotally and inseparably connecting the bristle units 13 to member 22. The member 22 and handle 30, which are molded integrally or fused together, are then `placed in their proper relation to the two halves 8 and 9 of the brush body 2, after which the faces 11 and 12 of the halves 8 and 9 are pressed into abutting engagement with the pivots 16 entering the arcuate recesses 17, and pivots 31 of the handle Sti being received in the apertures 32 provided in the ends of the side walls 4 and 5, as indicated in full and dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

When the parts are thus assembled, the faces 11 and 12 of the two halves 8 and 9 of the brush body 2 are suitably fused, welded or otherwise secured together to provide, in effect, an integral body unit, as will be understood by reference to FIGURES l, 4 and 5.

Means is provided for reinforcing the handle 30, and comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced ribs or fins 34, best shown in FIGURE 4. The ribs separate the bristles of each bristle unit 13 when the handle is in its closed position as will readily be understood by reference to FIGURE 4. The curved end wall portion 35 of the cover 30 is capable of flexing to a certain degree and has a slight inwardly facing recess 36 adjacent its marginal edge 37. The handle 3@ is so fashioned that when in its closed position as shown in FIG- URE 3, the recess 36 snaps into locking engagement with a small rib or projection 41 on the end wall 6 of the brush body 2, as clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

When the handle 30 is in its closed position as shown in FIGURE 3 it completely conceals the bristles within the brush and presents a very neat and attractive brush assembly. It will also be noted that when the handle is in its open operative position, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the spring 24 is completely concealed within the brush body. The end wall 7 at the opposite end of the body 2 extends inwardly into close proximity to the adjacent bristle unit 13 when the bristles are in the position shown in FIGURE 2, thereby providing a smooth appearance.

Spring 24 constantly urges the bristle actuating unit 22 in a direction to swing the bristles outwardly to the positions shown in FIGURE 2, and retains the bristles in such positions while the brush is in use. The outward swinging movement of the handle 30 to the position shown in FIGURE 2, is limited by the handle engaging the end wall 39 of the brush body 2, and the spring 2f# tends to retain the handle in such position because of the pull exerted on the bristle actuating member 22.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a foldable brush structure of the class described, a hollow body comprising bottom, side and end walls, a plurality of bristle-supporting units mounted for rocking movement in said body, and having pivots at their opposite ends supported in said side walls, an elongated bristle actuating member mounted for longitudinal movement in said bottom wall and having operative connections with said bristle units, a handle member having one end pivoted to one end of said hollow body, the pivoted end of said handle member comprising a cylindrical wall portion, said bristle actuating member comprising a flexible strap-like portion having one end iixedly secured to the cylindrical wall portion of the handle member and adapted, upon pivotal movement of the handle member into closing position, to cause said flexible strap-like end portion to wrap around the cylindrical wall portion of said handle member and thereby longitudinally translate the bristle actuating member in a direction to collapse said bristles, said handle member when swung to its open extended position, causing said strap-iike portion to unwind and thereby longitudinally translate the bristle actuating unit to swing the bristles into their operative extended positions.

2. A brush structure according to claim l, wherein the handle end portion of said flexible strap-like end portion is fused to the cylindrical wall portion of handle member to provide, in effect, an integral connection therebetween.

3. A brush structure according to claim 2, wherein the bristle actuating member comprises a plurality of pairs of spaced lugs, and each bristle-supporting unit comprises a cylindrical bearing element adapted to be forcibly pressed between a pair of said lugs with a snap action.

4. A brush structure according to claim 3, wherein the side walls of said `body are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced inwardly facing arcuately formed slots, and each bristle-supporting unit is provided at its ends with outwardly projecting axially aligned pivots receivable in said arcuate slots, whereby when the actuating member is longitudinally translated in one direction, said bristles -are swung outward-ly into operative positions, and when said actuating member is moved in the opposite direction, said `bristles are swung inwardly into their collapsed inoperative positions Within the brush structure.

5. The brush structure of claim 1 in which a spring is secured between said hollow body and the end of said elongated bristle actuating member at the opposite end thereof from that secured to said flexible strap-like portion and yieldingly urging said elongated bristle actuating member to place said bristles in an extended operative position.

6. A folding device comprising a hollow body, a plurality of brush bristle units mounted for rocking movement in said body, an actuating bar slidably mounted in said 'body and having pivotal connections with said plurality of lbrush bristle units, a `cover member pivoted to one end of said hollow body, said cover member when in one position forming a closure for said body and concealing said brush bristle units, and when in an open extended position forming a handle for said body, and a ileXi-'ble strap-like member formed integrally with and interconnecting the adjacent ends of said actuating bar and said handle member, whereby pivotal movement of said handle member will impart relative sliding movement of said actuating bar to rock said units.

7. In a folding device of the general type having a hol- 10W body portion and a cover-handle hingedly secured to said hollow body portion and when hinged into juxtaposition therewith, forming a cover closure for said hollow body portion and when extended forming a handle for said hollow body portion, said hollow body portion having a brush bristle assembly movably mounted therein and interconnected with said cover-handle whereby when it is closed said brush bristle assembly `is folded into said hollow body portion, and when said cover-handle is opened to its handle position said brush bristle assembly is extended for use, the improvement comprising: the actuating connection between said brush bristle assembly and said cover-handle portion consisting entirely of a flexible strap-like member, said cover-handle member having a cylindrical portion adjacent to said flexible straplike member and said flexible strap-like member being References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chambers Apr. 1, 1902 Johnson Dec. 8, 1925 6 Rosenberg Nov. 29, 1932 La Vetes et a1. May 9, 1950 Stephenson et al. July 29, 1952 Kaye et al. -2 May 2, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 19, 1922 Germany Aug. 3, 1915 Germany June 18, 1927 

6. A FOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY, A PLURALITY OF BRUSH BRISTLE UNITS MOUNTED FOR ROCKING MOVEMENT IN SAID BODY, AN ACTUATING BAR SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND HAVING PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS WITH SAID PLURALITY OF BRUSH BRISTLE UNITS, A COVER MEMBER PIVOTED TO ONE END OF SAID HOLLOW BODY, SAID COVER MEMBER WHEN IN ONE POSITION FORMING A CLOSURE FOR SAID BODY AND CONCEALING SAID BRUSH BRISTLE UNITS, AND WHEN IN AN OPEN EXTENDED POSITION FORMING A HANDLE FOR SAID BODY, AND A FLEXIBLE STRAP-LIKE MEMBER FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH AND INTERCONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID ACTUATING BAR AND SAID HANDLE MEMBER, WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER WILL IMPART RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING BAR TO ROCK SAID UNITS. 